In previous posts I have written a little about empowering language and how it effects your results in life. I last wrote about profanity and how disempowering it is to use it, much less be on the receiving end of it. If you really think about the times profanity is used the most, it is when people are frustrated, angry, lost, offended, scared or intimidated. Which of those feelings do you wish to operate in regularly? None I hope! Normally, when someone is happy, feeling ambitious, on top of the world, full of joy and otherwise successful, profanity is seldom to be found.

Let’s take a look at four simple words and how to improve your language by not using two of them:

Can

Can’t

Will

Try

How many times, for you parents, do you hear your children say, “I can’t” during the day? I know for us, it used to be a regular part of their vocabulary. We had to nip it in the bud quickly because if it stays there, it can have a huge effect on their accomplishments throughout their lifetime.

Instead of stating what you can’t do, simply state what you can do. “Can” is brought forth by action, “can’t” is merely saying you won’t or that you don’t believe you can. Now we all know that the more you repeat something in your mind, the more it tends to stick. If you don’t believe that, you’re in for a rude awakening one day. The more someone uses words like ‘can’t,’ the more it enters your mind and eventually, you won’t be able to do a lot of things because you have repetitively told your mind that you ‘can’t.’ Can you picture a person of action using ‘can’t’ very often?

Now, have you ever had a party at your home and invited some friends or family to come but when asked, they gave you the standard, “I’ll try?” I think we all have. Now what they’re really telling you is no. Saying that you will try to do something is basically saying that it is the last thing on your priority list. If there’s absolutely nothing else going on in the world that you can possibly do, then you will try to do this thing.

Really there should only be “will or won’t,” “yes or no.” Saying you “will” is a commitment. Saying you’ll “try” is avoiding a commitment.

Think of the most successful person you have ever known. Do you see them using ‘can’t’ or ‘try’ very often? Probably not. A persn of action CAN and WILL.